Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-05-06

the meaning of dignitied and appropriate
| design. To ~reiterate, for it cannot be
too often or emphatically repeated, the
basis of all art knowledge is thorough
ness. 1t is gratifying to observe thai
this view is gradually becoming reco9-
nized. In the art schools now SO nu-
merons-at least. in those of better
| class--the idea is rather to expand nan
contract the various branches Of study.
Women readily respond to this state OF
things, and it is to them and their art
| education these remarks are addressed.
Far from there being any ~oblectlon'
however, to amateur art, the pursuit
appears to be highly desirable, for any
thing extending the higher mental
functions cannot be too widely or gen
orally known. But let the amateur
study on o professional basis-draw
from casts of the antique until the
mind has become imbucd with the idea
of perfect form-courageously attack
the somewhat dry but necessary study
of perspective. anatomy, the rules OF
composition and of pictorial effect, and
most assuredly i'll proportion as these
branches of knowledge are mastered so
surely will the power thus attained
bring delight to its possessor.
Art is o fascinating pursuit, and
every one Of cultivated mind very
naturally desires some degree OF nc
quaintance with that which tends to i'm
prove the taste, enlarge the under
standing, and bring brightness and
beauty into the life. Ordinary educa-
ton supplies these accomplishments
which are a necessity Of refined life,
whilst special study of the fine art Sc
cures to us that higher wisdom the
Creator transmits to his creatures
through the lessons to be taught by the
structure of this beautiful world. The
better way to acquire that wisdom it
has been the object of these few ideas
to convey. Woman, it has been shown,
is peculiarly fitted, from imaginative
power, as we'll as from sensitive organi-
cation, for q pursuit in which imagina-
ton and keen appreciation OF the beau
tiful are cardinal requirements. With
a Mary Somerville in science, and, say,
a Rosa Bonheur in art, it would be III
diculous to say that women are not ca
pablc of the highest attainments.
Those following the latter profession
are multiplied from the few of II half q
century ago to the hundreds of the
present day. And we'll would it be if
the present large number was multi
piled tenfold, for the knowledge so ac-
quired is one of universal application,
and n charging the mind. strength
ening tine generous impulses of the
heart, and adding to the sum total OF
human happiness.
SO much that is beautiful is seen by
eyes that see not and is regarded
wholly without intelligent appreciation.
And yet the modest hedgerow flowers,
nay, the very leaves of the field, are OF
perfect beauty. The appliances OF
mechanism. rs in the microscope, re-
veal this to us, and the ordered method
OF nature in her humblest work is I'M
folded to the mind. But those among
us, whatever their degree, who either
for the purposes Of improvement or for
the necessities Of life have made the
study of the beautiful, which is the
chief end and aim of art, their special
occupation, will v disregard the
moanest thing on Gods earth, but will
trace the unearring handiwork with
cultivated sense.